Why every remaining team will, won't win UEFA Champions League - ESPN

With the UEFA Champions League's extended league phase over, it's time for the extended knockout rounds. That's both a pointed commentary and a celebration.

Are soccer's major competitions bloated? Probably. Is the sport's calendar bursting at the seams? Absolutely. And do these extended competitions give us even more stories to follow and offer more clubs access to moments they'll talk about forever? Absolutely.

Over the next two weeks, 16 teams will vie for the eight remaining spots in the Champions League round of 16. Clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Inter Milan will look to right their league phase wrongs and prepare for another long spring of European nights. Others, including Bodo/Glimt, Benfica and FK Qarabag, will look to continue their miraculous stories after providing some of the sport's more enduring moments in the fall and winter. And until they're eliminated, everyone technically has a chance at winning the whole thing.

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For each of the 24 remaining teams with a shot at the Champions League crown, let's talk about why they could win the whole thing… and why they probably won't.

Playoff games will be held Tuesday-Wednesday (first leg) and Feb. 24-25 (second leg)

Average title odds: 26.3%
Next opponent: Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos (round of 16)

(Note: I created a set of average title odds based on those set by Opta's supercomputer, DraftKings and xStandings.com on Monday morning.)

Why they will win it all: They're the best team in Europe. Plain and simple. M